Golf practice device

ABSTRACT

A floatable device for golfers for practicing chipping or short approach shots. The device is in the shape of a common golf green and may be made of a cellular plastic material, such as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Styrofoam,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or from a member which may be inflated by air. The device includes a top covering of artificial grass bristles and a cup and flag stick to simulate a golf green and hole. The device may be anchored at a particular location in a body of water by weight members hanging from the bottom of the device.

United States Patent [191 Simon [4 1 June 4, 1974 1 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE3,578,333 5/1971 Elesh 273/l8l R 3. 6, 76 11 1968 [76] 22057 Vanowe3239.333 111971 g Canoga Park, Callf- 91303 3,669,454 6/1972 KOlOnel273/1761 [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 Primary Examiner-George J. Mario [2]]Appl' 327629 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sanford Astor [52] US. Cl. 273/181R, 273/l78 B, 273/34 R 51 1m. 01 6. A63b 69/36 [57] ABSTRACT Field ofSearch 273/010. 8, 176. 178. 34. A floatable device for golfers forpracticing chipping 273/ 181 182 177. 179, 180 or short approach shotsThe device is in the shape of a common golf green and may be made of acellular [56] References Cited plastic material, such as Styrofoam," orfrom a mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS her which may be inflated by air. Thedevice includes 1 470,603 10/1923 Du BOlS 273/34 A a top covering fartificial grass bristles and a cup and 23457.759 12/1948 Wales 273/34 Aflag Stick to Simulate golf green and hole- The qevice 3,038,726 6/l962Hesidence 273/178 B x may be anchored at a particular location in a bodyof 3.185,476 5/1965 Fechner... 273/D1G. 8 water by weight membershanging from the bottom of 3,2l5.436 ll/l965 Carter 273/DlG. 8 thedevice, 3,3l4,679 4/l967 Kolln 273/l82 R 7 3551.263 12/1970 Carter et al273/176 J 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEHJuu 41914 3814439 1 GOLFPRACTICE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many devices are on themarket to allow golfers to practice various shots at home. These includemany devices to practice putting and some to practice driving.

There are also devices such as plastic golf balls and balls made ofother soft materials used for golfers to practice at home.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for agolfer to practice chip shots while he is at home around his or herpool.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a floatable deviceresembling a golf green with a cup and flag that a golfer can use tofloat in his swimming pool and practice chip shots or other shots.

These and other objects willbe obvious from the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the device of the invention floating in a pool with thegolfer, his club and ball ready to use the device and,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown the device of the presentinvention, shown floating in a swimming pool, depicted by the edge 12. Agolfer 14 is poised ready to hit a ball 16 with a golf club 18.

While the golfer is shown near the edge of the pool 12, in practicegenerally he would be at a further distance from the pool with the balllocated on some grassy surface near the pool or at any distance chosenby the golfer depending upon the amount of room available to the golferand the type of shot he wishes to practice. This device is particularlyadaptable to practice chip shots or short irons but any shot may bepracticed depending upon the room available.

Generally, also, a plastic or other soft practice ball is used and not areal golf ball, although if the golfer wishes he may of course use areal ball.

The device 10 is comprised of a floatable body 20 which is made of anyfloatable material such as Styrofoam or plastic or it may even beinflatable plastic or rubber and blown up to float in the pool.

The body may be rectangular or circular but is most effective as apractice aid when it is in a common shape of a golf green as depicted.

The top of body 20 is covered with an artificial grass such as Astroturfor one of many other surfaces which are in the order of carpeting butlook and feel like grass. This gives a most realistic appearance andfeel to the device as well as a more realistic bounce and roll of theball.

A cup 24 made of preferable plastic, or which can be metal, is insertedin a hollow 26 placed in the body 20. A flag 28 afiixed to a flag stick30 is fixedly attached to the bottom of cup 24 so that the golfer cangrab the flag stick 30 and lift the cup 24 out of hollow 26 and thuslift the balls in the cup out of the device.

The cup 24 fits snugly in hollow 26 but can easily be lifted out bypulling stick 30. The-flag stick 30 can be made as part of the plasticcup 24 or may be fixedly at tached thereto by any convenient means suchas a screw or chemical bonding.

The device is blanced in such a way as to float in a level manner in thepool.

In the event the water is rough for any reason the device may be made tofloat more evenly by hanging a weight (not shown) from the bottom of thedevice from one or even three points to anchor the device and make itmore steady. This is only necessary however in the event of wind orrough water.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. A device for practicing golf shots comprising a floatable body in theshape of a golf green, a hollow in said body adapted to receive a golfball putting cup, a layer of upstanding bristles simulating grasscovering the upper surface of said body, a golf ball putting cupincluding a flag and flag stick fixedly attached to the bottom of saidcup, said cup being positioned in the hollow of said body, and said bodybeing composed of an inflatable plastic member.

2. The device of claim 1 including means for anchoring said device in arelatively fixed location when floating in a body of water.

1. A device for practicing golf shots comprising a floatable body in theshape of a golf green, a hollow in said body adapted to receive a golfball putting cup, a layer of upstanding bristles simulating grasscovering the upper surface of said body, a golf ball putting cupincluding a flag and flag stick fixedly attached to the bottom of saidcup, said cup being positioned in the hollow of said body, and said bodybeing composed of an inflatable plastic member.
 2. The device of claim 1including means for anchoring said device in a relatively fixed locationwhen floating in a body of water.